Chapter 25 ： Hidden Secrets

Perry's top priority was still to find the yellow mushcat his mentor needed. He was well aware that it was illegal to casually cook food with magical properties without a chef's license. Only licensed chefs could safely handle such operations.

"System, do you know what color the mentor's mushcat is?" he asked.

[Yellow.]

"Alright, I need to find that yellow mushcat before they come back," Perry muttered to himself, returning to the cave where he had previously killed the pink-striped spider.

Perry, now moving with more urgency, retraced his steps to the cave where he had fought the spider. The cave entrance was shrouded in shadow, and the dim light made the entire space feel eerie and foreboding. The air was damp and carried a faint scent, likely due to condensation on the walls from the drop in temperature, as if the cave itself was quietly breathing. There was also a lingering aroma in the air from the spider's fluids spilled during their battle.

As he entered the cave, scanning the surroundings in the faint light, Perry immediately noticed something odd—the pool of pink liquid had significantly shrunk. There was a faint drag mark on the ground, extending deeper into the cave, as if something had pulled the body away. The giant spider corpse that should have been lying there was now gone.

His eyes widened, and his heartbeat quickened as an inexplicable sense of danger closed in from all sides.

"Where did the spider's body go?" Perry muttered, his gaze darting around the cave, trying to catch any suspicious movement or signs. Suddenly, a faint sound echoed from deeper within, like some creature was moving inside the cave. The air grew heavier, and the unsettling noise shattered the previously oppressive silence.

"System, are there any other creatures here?" He tensed up, his body on high alert.

[The host should be cautious. There may be dangerous creatures nearby, but I cannot confirm it at the moment.]

Frowning, Perry controlled his breathing, trying not to make any unnecessary noise. He pressed against the wall, attempting to blend into the shadows while thinking through his next steps. He knew his primary objective was to find the yellow mushcat as soon as possible. The longer he delayed, the more danger he would be in.

However, the atmosphere in the cave had drastically changed. The silence now seemed to conceal unseen threats, like cold eyes watching him from the dark. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that this mission might be far more complicated than he had anticipated.

"I need to find the mushcat quickly and get out of here," Perry resolved, quickening his pace as he moved deeper into the cave.

As he ventured further, he noticed that the number of mushcats had significantly decreased. The cave was no longer as lively as before, likely due to the pink-striped spider's presence scaring them off or perhaps even making them its prey.

Realizing time was running out, Perry knew he had to find the yellow mushcat quickly. He scanned the area, noting the dwindling number of mushcats, possibly because they had been eaten by the spiders.

"Is there still a complete yellow mushcat here?" he wondered.

Perry searched every corner of the cave, and fortunately, he finally found a still-living yellow mushcat. It seemed to be sleeping, and as Perry approached, it showed no reaction.

Carefully cradling the mushcat in his hands, Perry watched it remain peacefully asleep, and he finally sighed in relief—he wouldn't face punishment from his mentor for failing the task.

"Alright, mission accomplished. Now I can get out of here," Perry muttered to himself. Just as he was about to leave the cave, he noticed a red mushcat not far away, with a matchstick stuck between its fur.

"Could this be the mushcat Larkin is looking for? Well, I might as well take it to her," Perry thought, picking up the red mushcat as well.

As he exited the cave, he suddenly overheard two people talking nearby. Quickly, he hid, ensuring they didn't see him.

"I can't believe something like this happened," Larkin's voice sounded shocked and incredulous.

"This must stay secret for now," Rufus whispered to Larkin. "Let's get Henry back first..."

"What's happening in this village?" Perry wondered.

At that moment, the red mushcat let out a sudden meow, startling Perry and causing him to drop it. The mushcat darted away in an instant.

"Uh-oh!" Perry's heart sank.

"What was that sound?" Larkin immediately turned toward the noise. "Ah, that's the mushcat I've been looking for—haha, the last matchstick!"

"It's quick," Rufus remarked calmly.

"Well, go after it!" Larkin urged Rufus impatiently.

"Alright, alright," Rufus said reluctantly, chasing after the mushcat.

As their footsteps faded, Perry cautiously emerged from his hiding spot. His heart pounded. "They wouldn't kill me over this, would they?" he thought, though his curiosity about what they had discovered and why they were keeping it secret gnawed at him.

Creeping toward the cave's exit, Perry observed his surroundings. Based on the conversation, it was clear they were hiding something, and his current situation might make him an unwanted witness.

"Ah-ha! Finally caught it!" Larkin's joyful voice echoed back.

"Congratulations. Now burn the matchstick so the prank magic will be lifted," Rufus muttered while pacing around. "Where in the world is Henry?"

"Don't worry, I know what to do," Larkin said as she retrieved the matchstick from the Mushcat's fur, chanting, "Parvum ignem!"

A tiny flame appeared in her hand, and the matchstick disintegrated into ashes.

"Yes! I can finally say 'matchstick' again!" Larkin cheered, clearly pleased.

"Henry! Where are you?" Rufus called out, ignoring Larkin's enthusiasm. "Did you head out, Henry?"

It seemed they had no intention of harming him. After a brief hesitation, Perry finally responded, "I'm here." He pretended to have only just heard Rufus calling for him.

Larkin approached, causing Perry to unconsciously take a step back. "Is something wrong, Larkin?"

She stared at him for a moment before suddenly asking, "Where did you just go?"

"I went to find the Mushcat I needed," Perry said, raising the yellow Mushcat in his hands as proof of his honesty.

"Is that so..." Larkin raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with a hint of suspicion.

"I came here for the Mushcat," Perry explained. "I was attacked earlier and passed out. When I woke up, I didn't see you two. Since I'm leaving today, I had to hurry and find it."

"Oh, I see," Rufus interjected, pulling Larkin back. "You found your Mushcat—good. By the way, did you see anything unusual in there?"

"Actually, yes. I saw a large pink-striped spider," Perry briefly recounted the earlier incident.

"I see. Looks like your injury was from the spider," Rufus said, glancing at the wound on Perry's shoulder. "Why haven't you healed it yet?"

"I ran out of magic earlier. I'll heal it in a bit," Perry replied, just remembering the injury. Fortunately, the spider's paralyzing venom was still numbing the pain.

"It's getting dark. We should escort you back to the village. It's dangerous to stay here," Rufus offered.

"Alright," Perry agreed, realizing he needed to return to the academy quickly and disguise the Mushcat he had found as the one his mentor required.

Larkin remained silent, only watching him. Occasionally, her gaze met Rufus's, which made Perry feel an unsettling sense of unease.